Recent reports of coyotes in St. Rose have animal control agents on watch.
Parish Animal Control Director Angie Robert said that several pets, including cats and dogs that are missing in the area, are believed to be the prey of coyotes. So far, there have been 10 pets reported missing.
“We’re not 100 percent sure it’s coyotes; we only suspect,” Robert said. “I have a report in St. Rose of somebody seeing a coyote in their yard twice.”
Robert said that while recent reports have been coming in from St. Rose, coyotes can be found all over St. Charles Parish.
“I get reports about that all the time. It’s not just in St. Rose. We actually picked up a coyote that was shot or hit by a car just this morning in Hahnville,” Robert said. “It’s all over the parish, it just so happens that St. Rose is building and that’s taking up some of the habitat and taking up some of the coyotes’ food sources so they have to find alternative food sources.”
Sheriff Greg Champagne said that the coyotes are hard to catch or kill, which may make it difficult to solve this problem.
“As a hunter, I can tell you coyotes are very smart and very allusive,” Champagne said. “Their numbers are growing and there are more coyotes near neighborhoods than I think most people believe. I’ve heard them outside of my house.”
The Sheriff’s Office and Animal Control are trying to solve the problem together by setting traps and shooters.
“We’ve got a guy monitoring over there who has actually been out with a rifle very carefully to see if we can shoot the coyote,” Champagne said. “We’re just trying to help Animal Control catch (the coyotes) or shoot them in a very safe, careful way.”
Robert said the most important thing that residents can do is help cut down on the reasons coyotes come into neighborhoods.
“We have to cut off the food supply,” Robert said. “Always put your pet inside at night. Never leave your pet outside at night because when you do it becomes part of the food chain and you’re almost inviting the coyotes to come in.
“Also, never leave food outside at night and keep your trash in a closed trash bin. Those are the type of things that will draw them in.”
Pam Talley, an Animal Control officer and resident of St. Rose, said her 8-month-old pitbull and orange-and-white cat are both missing.
An 8-month-old pitbull weighs between 25 to 30 pounds.
“Both of them disappeared on the same night. I’m suspecting a coyote because it looked like (coyotes) were digging on the fence from the outside,” Talley said.
Now Talley is trying to protect the rest of her pets from the threat of coyotes.
“One of the things I’ve done is close the dog door at 6 p.m. so the dogs and cats can’t get out,” she said. “I hope people learn to stop leaving food out. I don’t think we’ll get rid of them, but it may reduce the population some.”
Robert also said that while coyotes are generally afraid of humans, some in the area seem to be losing that fear.
“They do have a general fear of humans, but I think their food drive surpasses that,” Robert said. “Months ago, we were walking in the woods looking for tracks when we first got reports of them. I saw one that really just looked at us and turned around. You have to worry that they’re kind of getting used to humans.”
If you spot a coyote near a residential area, please contact Animal Control at 985-783-5000.
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